Revive

With Radiohead getting further away from the mainstream with each release, a crop of British bands have turned up post-OK Computer that appear to be picking up where Radiohead left off early on, before getting all artsy. The first groups (and the best-known) to arrive were Travis and Coldplay, and later, Steadman. What sets the latter group apart from the pack is their appreciation of the Beatles (or perhaps Oasis, it's hard to say), which is on display throughout their fine sophomore effort, Revive, their first for a major label (Elektra). Leader Simon Steadman sure knows how to pen memorable pop tunes, often with a laid-back feel, and centering around his voice and acoustic guitar. A consistent album from start to finish, Revive contains such individual highlights as the leadoff single, "No Big Deal" (perhaps the most upbeat song on the whole record), as well as more mid-paced, melancholic fare, such as "Good to Go," "Wave Goodbye," "Create Your Fate," and the album's closing title track. "Revive." This album goes to show that Brit pop is still alive and well, which Steadman more than delivers on with the promise of their earlier work.